Photos: Fender guitars

Fender executive Justin Norvell holds a cutout from a Fender guitar.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Romulo Ramos sands the body of a Stratocaster at the Fender guitar factory in Corona. The Fender Stratocaster guitar was designed in 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Maria Martinez inspects the color of Fender guitars at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Jesus Montes, headliner painter, sprays a guitar with a two-tone honey stain at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Maria Martinez inspects the color of guitars at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Freshly painted Fender Stratocaster guitars and bass guitars are hung from a rack in the ceiling to dry at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Neck samples hanging near the assembly line list some of Fender’s customers. Since 1946, the company has catered to the famous and talented, and those who want to emulate them.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Estela Penaloza hammers frets onto Fender Stratocaster guitar necks at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Holes are drilled into a guitar neck at the Fender factory in Corona. Each instrument goes through 140 hand shaping and smoothing processes.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Jose Serna, who has worked 48 years for Fender, cleans and shapes guitar necks at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Dave Wronski, tuner and tester and guitarist with the band Slaktone, inspects, tunes and makes final adjustments to a Fender Dimension five-string bass at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender executive Justin Norvell practices his guitar at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Eric Clapton’s signed Fender Stratocaster guitar hangs in a display case at the Fender guitars factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Guitars, basses and amplifiers are molded into a piece of artwork hanging on display at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)